The places of Salento

Lecce is a city of almost 100 thousand inhabitants. It is located in the central area of the Salento peninsula and is about 10 km from the Adriatic coast and about 15 km from the Ionian coast. It is a famous city of art also known as Florence of the South.

There are many monuments and places of interest to visit in Lecce. Surely for density of works of art is the richest city in Puglia. The main characteristic that distinguishes it is certainly Baroque. This style spread especially in the seventeenth century. A style that also thanks to the local stone "la Pietra Leccese".

Stone from Lecce is in fact a soft and compact stone that adapts perfectly to the processing with chisel. Today, more than forty churches are scattered only in the city of Lecce. The most important are: the Cathedral, the Basilica of Santa Croce, the Church of Sant' Irene, the Church of Jesus, the Church of Santa Chiara, the Church of Carmine, the Church of San Matteo, the Church of Sant' Angelo and the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli.

The entrance doors to the city are also beautiful and imposing. There were originally four: Porta Napoli, Porta Rudiae, Porta San Biagio and Porta San Martino. The latter after works to modify the city's plant was erased and razed to the ground.

The Castle of Charles V was built, according to the tradition of Charles V in order to avoid Turkish invasions.

Although located inland, Lecce boasts six "Marine" (San Cataldo, Frigole, Torre Chianca, Torre Chianca, Spiaggiabella, Torre Rinalda, Casalabate) seaside resorts that welcome tourists and citizens from Lecce fleeing from the routine and rhythms of the city.